In August 2019, President Dudley announced the approval of an update to W&L's Climate Action Plan, which was developed and recommended by the University Sustainability Committee. The updated plan outlines the steps we will take in the coming decade toward meeting our climate commitment, adopted in 2007, of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
In partnership with broader communities and mindful of the university's commitment to the Presidents Climate Commitment and the Tallories Declaration, the University Sustainability Committee aims to lead the university community in education and action toward sustainability. The University Sustainability Committee was established in the fall of 2008 as an administrative committee charged with advising the president on matters related to sustainability efforts of Washington and Lee.
Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, this is the first official statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education.
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate.